First Home Sooner? How Australia’s 5% Deposit Scheme Can Help Perth Buyers in 2026
There is an important shift happening in the Perth property market — and for people planning to buy, it could create a much better environment to search, compare and negotiate.
The latest REIWA market snapshot for the week ending 4 October 2026 shows 8,013 properties listed for sale across Perth. That compares with 7,352 four weeks earlier and just 2,821 in the same week last year.
At the same time, Perth recorded 530 property sales for the week, compared with 665 four weeks earlier and 729 in the corresponding week last year.
Put those two figures together and the message for prospective buyers is interesting: there are considerably more properties available while sales activity has slowed.
What could this mean for Perth buyers?
For several years, one of the biggest frustrations for Perth buyers has been limited stock. When many buyers compete for relatively few homes, people can feel pressured to make quick offers or compromise on what they really want.
An increase in available properties can change that dynamic.
Buyers may now have more homes to compare, more time to assess individual properties and potentially greater negotiating opportunities. It doesn’t mean every seller will negotiate or that prices will fall substantially, but the balance between buyers and sellers is changing.
The broader Australian market has also softened. Cotality’s national Home Value Index fell 1.1% in September, its sixth consecutive monthly decline, leaving national values 5.2% below their March peak.
However, Perth should not simply be described as a market that has “crashed”. REIWA’s latest 12-month data still shows a Perth median house price of $965,000 and median unit price of $695,750.
Preparation could be the advantage
Higher interest rates mean borrowing capacity and repayments need careful consideration. The RBA’s cash rate is currently 4.60%, following the September increase.
But buyers who are financially ready may now be looking at a market with significantly more choice than a year ago.
Rather than trying to predict the exact bottom of the market, this could be a good time to understand your borrowing capacity, arrange finance pre-approval where appropriate, establish a comfortable budget and be ready when the right property appears.
More listings + slower sales could mean more opportunity for prepared buyers.
Thinking about buying in Perth?
Talk to NAGA Mortgage Brokers before you start negotiating.
📞 0489 299 995
🌐 www.ntmortgagebrokers.com.au
📍 22 Vidler Street, Cloverdale 6105, Perth WA
General information only. Property markets can rise or fall. Lending criteria, individual circumstances, fees and charges apply.
